Jurrasic Park 4

Because I am in love with the movie franchise...( I saw the first one 11 times in theaters), this is exciting news!

whinning

According to my inside contact the position that I really want at the studio in feature development has postponed hiring because the VP is out of town. But, I just received word (from an outside source) that indeed they were already in interviews. I haven’t heard a thing. I can’t just go and out my contact in the department as a liar but I wish I had the facts. Oh wells, another chance that might not come my way. I have been submitting to jobs like a madman and average of 8 to 20 per week and have only been contacted once about potential hire. I keep thinking there is something wrong with my resume or cover letter but each time I review them I am quite impressed. Maybe it just goes to show that they way to move up in Hollywood is not through the traditional corporate ways….and that resumes, experience or education means nothing. I attended a panel discussion with executives in different departments and they told stories of how they “made it” in the biz. My hopes were high until they mentioned their past (Harvard Business Grad, Computer prodigy w/ own game company, Business developer for Coke/IBM)… too bad I don’t have any of those qualifications in my arsenal when I’m “trying to make it.” I’m headed out of town for the extended weekend, pray the weather improves.

My Valentine

Sometimes I seem to neglect to tell my wife how much I love her. The only reason I am able to be out here trying to find a way to follow my dreams is because my wife supports me in everything. All her time, talent, finances, planning and thoughts are used to make us work and for that I can never be grateful enough. Our love story may not be the most unique, nor the most grandiose; but I would be remiss if I did not proclaim my undying love and thanks for the woman who makes me possible. Happy Valentines day, I love you.

mumblings...

Netflix is ripping me off…no not really but from this article I wouldn’t be surprised if I was suspect. I am a movie fanatic and love watching them all the time. I have been more limited in how much I watch though. Ken has a new look, and Viginia Madsen outed him as gay…only in a post Brokeback Mountain would this be safe to laugh at. And last but not least, I got reamed for showing up 15 min. late for a meeting I planned. Honestly, I completely forgot about it but I used my kid as cover and told everyone that he was sick. Nice, huh! I am one twisted dad.

Viva Portugal!

I went and visited my family for the weekend because my little brother came home from living in Portugal for two years on his mission. He has been proselytizing for so long he was a little freaked out by all the worldly ways and about America in general. I know what he’s feeling considering I spent two years in Russia, and coming back to America was way more of a culture shock that going to Russia. I must say though that Russia is a little more sober after I left, either because of my preaching or they’re just running out of alcohol. But anyways, he’s home safe now and brought cute cultural staples like the ones pictured. I had fun playing games, eating, watching the super bowl and of course going to the Train Museum with my eldest son. He’s officially obsessed. We got a new inter-company memo from the president explaining why they sold off the book publishing division, even though they had great returns. Lots of changes to a media conglomerate.

Nominate Narcissism

The Oscar nominations came out yesterday, and despite the applause everyone has lauded on these pictures; it proved to me something that I have been harping on for some time – “Hollywood is out of sync with the rest of the world.” I found a great article that explains more people have seen March of the Penguins than any of the films nominated for best picture. True, the Picture nominees are great films, but what has happened to the grand epics and sweeping love stories that capture the minds of millions, rather than a select target audience. A polite name for these artsy so-so’s is Niche films, or “films that didn’t do near the business we wanted them to so we will tell everyone it was for a specific group of people” It’s the same tactic used when distributors say they are advertising by “word of mouth”. It is sort of fun watching all these executives smile and accept the nominations with pride and honor while inwardly cursing their shortsightedness in mass appeal. True they may say they are happy backing such artistic endeavors, but I’m sure they and their shareholders would be happier if it had been a success. I know I’m ranting, and probably saying a lot of un-PC things, but it seems that the voters are roped into nominating films for PC reasons. Little tyke Brokeback Mountain received a nomination in all of the main categories, whereas behemoth juggernaut the Passion of the Christ last year did not receive a single one in the same categories. People might blame artistic differences, critical acclaim or what have you but the truth of the matter is: Hollywood’s morals are not embraced by most of America, and America’s mainstream morals are not embraced by Hollywood. Hence decline in movies addressing America’s morals, hence decline in ticket sales, hence an upswing of Hollywood patting itself on the back because that is the only way they will get recognition (and hopefully draw more of the mainstream America on whom they despise and rely on) into the theatres! I’m proud to be a part of it.